Development of Thermal Energy Storage as a Supplemental Heat Source for Solar Dryer

Abstract:

The current work presents about the development of thermal energy storage (TES) using paraffin wax as a phase change material (PCM). In order to investigate the performance of TES as a supplemental heat source for solar dryer when no sunshine, the TES was connected with solar dryer having maximum capacity for 10 kg of fresh chilies. The TES unit consists of 28.35 kg PCM and copper tube inside the cylindrical tank. The charging process of the TES is carried out with the help of electrical heater. The paraffin wax in the TES starts to melt and absorb the energy till it turns to liquid state. For heat discharging process during the off sunshine hours, air with mass flow rate of 0.0023 kg/s at ambient temperature can be passed through the copper tube in the TES in order to provide hot air for the dryer. From the performance analysis results, it is observed that the temperature of drying chamber can be maintained about 40-50 °C for 3 hours at least after sunset and higher than ambient temperature about 16.72 °C. The novel design of TES successfully increases the performance of the drying systems and reduces the time for drying process.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 777)
• Pages: 102-106
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.777.102
• Online since: August 2018
• Authors: Malinee Kaewpanha*, Wikarn Wansungnern, Sathit Banthuek
• Keywords: Paraffin, Phase Change Material, Solar Dryer, Thermal Energy Storage

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